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PATENTED JAN. 5, 1,904.

S. B. BATTEY. THREADING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 1, 1903.

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No. 748,914. PATENTED JAN. 5-, 1904.

s. B. BATTEY. v THREADING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1903. N0 MODEL. 3 sEBETS-SHEET 2.

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ATTORNEY PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

S. B. BATTEY.

THREADING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, L903.

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WITNESSES:

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No. 748,914. r

UNITED STATES v Patented January 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

'SUMTER B. BATTEY, 0F new YonK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,914, dated January 5, 1904.

Application filed June 1, 1903. Serial No. 159.481. (No model.)

To all whom) it may concern.- v

Be it known that I, SUMTER BEAUREGARD BATTEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city ofNew York, borough of Manhattan, in the countyand State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Threading Device for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved threading device for sewing-machines arranged to automatically thread the needle in case the thread breaks, hence requiring no stopping of the sewingmaohine by the operator for threading purposes.

A further object of the invention is to allow the operator to throw the threading device into action at any time in case the automatic thread-controlled device should fail.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as

will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the improve-- ment as applied, the cover of the head of the sewing-machine arm being removed and parts being broken out.- Fig. 2is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the improve enlarged under side view of the improvement,

showing more particularly the thread-clamping jaws on the under side of the guideway. Fig. 7 is a'plan view of thelever for throwing the device into or out of action in case the automatic device is out of order. Fig. 8'is a perspective view of the thread retainer or catcher for high-speed sewingmachines. Fig. 9 is a front view of the improvement as applied, parts being broken out. Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the improvement on the line 11 11 of Fig. 1. Fig. 12 isa like view of the same on the line 12 12 of Fig.5. Fig. 13 is an enlarged transverse section of the same on the line 13 13 of Fig. 5. Fig. 14 is a face view of the crank, showing the cam device for actuating the lever connected with the plunger-carryingcross-head. Fig. 15 is a sectional side elevation of the same on the line 15 15 of Fig. 14, and Fig. 16 is an inverted plan view of the same.

The sewing-needle A of the sewing-machine of any approved construction is secured in a needle-bar B, mounted to slide vertically in the head B of a sewing-machine arm B and the said needle-bar B is pivotally connected by a pitman B with a crank O, secured to a shaft 0', extending through the sewing-machine arm and driven in the usual manner. The crank O is preferably in the form of a disk and is provided at its hub with a peripheral cam-groove for engaging a frictionroller on a thread-arm D, having on its free end an eye D for the passage of a thread E, extending from the said eye D down through a fixed eye E on the front of the head B to the eye of the needle A.

The features so far described belong to an ordinary sewing-machine on which the improvement is applied.

On one side of the needle Ais arranged an arm or support F,depending from and screwed or otherwise fastened to the front of the head B, and on the said support F is arranged a longitudinal guideway F for a cross-head G to slide in, the said cross-head carrying a split shank G in which is clamped a plunger or pin G for pushing the thread E through the eye of the needle at the time the needle-bar'moves into its uppermost position. This plunger ,G, its shank G andthe cross-head G are positively reciprocated from the crank G of the sewing-machine, and for this purpose the following device is provided:

Through an eyebolt G held transversely in the cross-head G, extends the split shank G for clamping the plunger G in position in the shank and for holding the latter in place in the cross-head G, and this bolt G is provided at its rear end with an extension-pin G (see Figs. 12 and 13,) engaged by a fork H on the lower end of a lever H, fulcrumed at H on the head B and having its upper pin-like end H standing in close proximity to the face of the crank O to be engaged by a cam device on the said crank forimparting a quick swinging motion to the. lever H, which then by the pin G imparts a quick reciprocating motion to the cross-head G and the plunger G to push the latter through the needle-eye and to return the plunger to a non-active position, the entire movement taking place while the needle-bar is nearing the end of its upward stroke, and before it begins its return or downward stroke.

The cam device on the crank-disk O consists of a V-shaped groove 0 (see Figs. 14 and I6) and a lever-cam I, fulcrumed at I on the face of the crank O and having one end provided with a V-shaped ofiset 1 adapted to pass in front of the groove 0 to engage the pin-like end H of the lever H, whereby the V-shaped offset of the lever-cam I and the walls of the groove (1 impart a quick swinging motion to the lever H for the purpose above mentioned, and at the same time the wrist-pin of the crank 0 moves into an uppermost position. (See Fig. 1.) The other end of the lever-cam I is provided with a projection 1 adapted to be engaged by the end J of a lever J, fulcrumed at J on the head B and having its lower end J engaging an oblique cam-groove J in a cam J secured on a shaft J mounted to turn in suitable hearings on the lower end of the head B, as plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 5. An arm J is secured on the shaft J and is provided with an eye J 8 for the passage of the thread E up to the eye D of the thread-arm D, so that the thread exerts an upward pressure against the eye J to hold the cam J normally in the position shown in Fig. 1. A light spring J presses the shaft J to impart a turning motion to the latter and the cam J as soon as the pressure of the thread on the eye J relaxesfor instance, on the breaking of the thread-so that the cam J 5 is caused to swing to imparta swinging motion to the lever J and bring the end J thereof into the path of the projection I to give a swinging motion to the lever-cam I for the ofiset I to swing opposite the groove 0 and into the path of the pin-like end H of the lever H. Thus when a thread breaks the mechanism just described causes a reciprocating of the plunger G for the latter to push the thread E through the needle-eye as soon as the needle-bar moves into an uppermost position. As soon as the thread is again engaged with the needle-eye and the sewing proceeds in the usual mannerthen the thread again exerts an upward pull on the eye J so that the shaft J and the cam J are turned back to the normal position (shown in Fig. 1) against the tension of the spring J whereby the lever J is returned to an inactive positionthat is, its end J is moved out of the path of the projection I on the lever-cam I. As soon as the V-shaped offset I is actuated in conjunction with the groove 0 to impart a swinging motion to the lever H then this end of the levercam I moves in engagement with a fixed cam I on the head B to impart a return swinging motion to the lever-cam I, (see Fig. 14,) thereby moving the ofiset I out of engagement with the pin-like end H of the lever H.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the needle-threading device is automatically ac tuated whenever the thread breaks, and the needle is rethreaded without requiring the operator to stop the machine for threading purposes. It will also beseen that the neodle-threading device is inactive as long as the thread remains in an unbroken condition; but as soon as the thread breaks the plunger G is reciprocated to push the thread through the needle-eye, and the plunger is actuated by a mechanism actuated from a movable part of the sewing-machine as soon as the said mechanism is thrown in gear by the thread-controlled device.

When the plunger G pushes the thread E through the eye of the needle, (see Fig. 3,) then the thread forms a loop E and this loop is now engaged by athread retainer or catcher to prevent the thread from returning with the plunger G on the latters return stroke and to allow the needle to carry the thread down into the work of forming the stitch.

The thread retainer or catcher for ordinary machines is preferably in the form of a horn K, mounted to swing transversely and adapted to pass with its free end into the loop E as soon as the latter is formed. The horn K operates in unison with the plunger G and needle-bar B, and for this purpose the horn K is secured by its L shaped shank K to a shaft K extending longitudinally and journaled in suitable hearings in the support F, and the said shank K is adapted to be engaged by a cam-arm H secured on the lever H, so that when the latter receives a swinging motion from the right to the left the camarm I-I engages the shank K, and thus imparts a swinging motion to the horn K for the latter to passinto the loop E as soon as the latter is formed. The loop E is held in the horn K until the needle B moves into a lowermost position, and at this time a pin or projection B on the needle-bar engages the forward end K of the shank K (see Fig. 11) to impart areturn swinging motion to the horn .K back to its former position. The downward swinging motion of the horn K is limited by a pin K held on the support F and extending into the path of the end K of the shank K, as indicated in Fig. 11.

In order to enable the operator to bring the thread into proper position for the end of the plunger G to engage the thread and push it through the needle-eye, a groove F is provided on the front end of the guideway F, and this groove is preferably curved, as indicated in Fig. 3, and across the groove F on the top extends a guide-arm L, and on the front of the guideway, below the guide-arm L, is arranged a fixed horn L (see Fig. 11) to permit the operator to quickly pass the thread under the guide-arm L and over the horn L, which directs the thread into the groove F and consequently into the path of the plunger G, preferably slightly recessed at' its forward end (see Fig. 12) to properly fit the thread.

In order to hold the thread stretched vertically in the groove F, a holding device is arranged on the bottom of the guideway F, and this holding device is preferably in the shape of spring clamping-arms N and N, (see Fig. 2,) secured to the under side of the guideway F and' extending with the free ends under the grooveF and the terminals of the said arms are curved outwardly in opposite directions to'allow a ready entrance of the thread between the arms.

. For very fast running machines the thread retainer or catcher is preferably in the form shown in Figs. 8, 9, and IO-that is, two clamping-jaws O 0' are provided, located one on top of the other, of which the lowermost arm, 0, projects from the lower end of a bracket 0 bolted or otherwise fastened to the head B. The other jaw, O, is held on an arm 0 having elongated slots 0 for the passage of bolts 0 screwing in the bracket 0 and forming a vertical guide for the arm 0 and the upper end thereof is pressed on by a spring 0 to normally hold the jaw O in contact with the jaw O, and the upper end of the arm 0 is provided with an offset or lug '0 adapted to be engaged by the rear end of the pin B previously mentioned and secured on the needle-bar B. Now when the needlebar rises the pin B engages the lug 0 so as to lift the jaw O to allow the loop E and the free end of the plunger G to pass between the now separated jaws O and O, and as soon as the plunger starts on the return stroke and the needle-bar B descends then the arm 0 is forced downward by'its spring 0 for the jaws O and O to clamp the loop between them, thus holding the loop in position to allow the needle to carry the thread to the work for forming the stitch in the usual manner.

In case the automatic thread-controlled device above described should get out of or der from any cause whatever, then the operator can readily actuate the lever-cam I by turning a handle P on a vertical shaft P, journaled in suitable hearings on the top of the arm B the said shaft carrying at its 'lower end an eccentric-pin P (see Fig. 5,)

adapted to move into the path of a projection 1 extending from the lever-cam I through an opening 0 in the crank O to the rear thereof. (See Fig. '15.) The handle P is provided with shoulders P P (see Fig. 7) for abutting on a fixed pin P on the top of the head B, so as to limit' the swinging motion of the said lever, it being understood that when the shoulder P is in engagement with the pin P then the eccentric-pin P is out of the path of the projection I but when the lever P is thrown forward to swing the shoulder P against the stop-pin P then the eccentrio-pin P moves into the path of the projection 1 so that when this projection 1 comes in contact with the pin P a swinging motion is given to the lever-cam I to move the V- shaped ofiset I over the groove 0 and into the path of the upper end H of the lever H to give the latter a swinging motion for reciprocating the plunger G, as previously explained. As soon as the projection I has left the eccentric-pin P then the latter is engaged by a cam-face O on the crank C to impart a turning motion to the shaft P to swing the handle P hack to its former position that is, to swing the shoulder P again against the stop-pin P so that the eccentric-pin P is automatically moved out of the path'of the projection I and consequently at the next revolution the threading device is out of action, as the lever-cam I is returned to its normally inactive position by the cam 1 It is understood that the'thread E unwinds in the usual manner from a spool and then passes-through an eye Q on the upper end of the'head B to then engage the usual tension device R, and from there pass through the eye.] and up through the eyeD', then through the eye E to the guideway F to be there engaged by the plunger G, as previously described.

In case the thread-controlled device is out of order then the thread is run from the tension device B through the usual second tension device R and then up through the eye D instead of passing the thread through the eye J as previously described.

In order to allow of cutting the thread conveniently at any time, the arm 13 is preferably provided with a knife S, as plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with asewing-machine, of a needle-threading device, and means for actuating the said needle-threading device on the breaking of the thread, as set forth.

2. The combination with asewing-machine, of a needle-threading device, and means for operating the said needle-threading device, actuated by a movable part of the sewingmachine on the breaking of the sewingthread, as set forth.

3. The combination with a sewing-machine, of a needle-threading device having a plunger, means for actuating the plunger from a movable part of the sewing-machine, and a controlling device actnated by the sewing-thread and controlling the said means, as set forth.

4. A needle-threading'device comprising a plunger, for pushing the thread through the needle-eye,actnating means for actuating the said plunger,a movable part of the sewing-machine for operating the said actuating means, and manually-controlled means for throwing I l M the said actuating means into gear, as set forth.

5. A needle-threading device comprising a plunger, for pushing the thread through the needle-eye,actuating means for actuating the; said plunger,a movable part of the sewing-machine for operating the said actuating means, 1 manually-controlled means for throwing the? said actuating meansinto gear,and means for throwing the actuating means automatically; out of gear after the needle is threaded, as set forth.

6. A sewing-machine provided with a needle; threading device having a plunger for push-, ing the thread through the needle-eye, and means for connection with a movable part of the sewing-machine,controlled by the sewingthread,to actuate the plunger on the breaking: of the sewing-thread at the time the needle moves into an uppermost position,as set forth.

7. The combination with asewing-machine,f of a needle-threading device, automatically; actuated on the breaking of the thread,and a: retaining device for engaging the thread after? the latter is pushed through the needle-eye by the said threading device, as set forth.

8. The combination with a sewingmachine, of a needle-threading device, automatically. actuated on the breaking of the thread, a retaining device for engaging the thread after the latter is pushed through the needle-eye by the said threading device, and means for ac-? mating the said retaining device in unison with the said threading device, as set fortha 9. The combination with asewing-machine, of a needle-threading device, automatically actuated on the breaking of the thread, and a retaining device for engaging the thread after the latter is pushed through the needle-eye by the said threading device, the said needlethreading device and the said retaining devicebeing arranged on opposite sides of the needle, as set forth.

10. A needle-threading device forming a permanent fixture of a sewing-machine,comprising a plunger for pushing the thread through the needle-eye, a guideway for the thread, to bring the latter into the path of th e5 plunger,the said gnideway and plunger being arranged on one side of the needle, actuating means for actuating the said plunger from a movable part of the sewing-machine,a retaining device located on the other side of the needle,for engaging and temporarily holding the portion of the thread pushed through the needle-eye by the said plunger,and means for actuating the said retaining device in unison with the said plunger, as set forth.

11. A sewing-machine provided with a needle-threading device,comprising a reciprocating plunger, for pushing the thread throughthe eye of the needle, a lever for imparting movement to the said plunger, and a cam on the crank of the actuating device for the needle-bar, adapted to engage the lever and rock the same at the time the needle-bar moves into an uppermost position, as set forth.

12. A sewing-machine provided with a needle-threading device,comprising a reciprocating plunger, for pushing the thread through the eye of the needle, a lever for imparting movement to the said plunger, a cam on the crank of the actuating device for the needlebar, adapted to engage the lever and rock the same at the time the needle-bar moves into an uppermost position, and a thread-controlled device for moving the said cam into an active position on the breaking of the thread, as set forth.

13. Asewing-machine provided with a needle-threading device,comprisingareciprocating plunger, for pushing the thread through the eye of the needle, a lever for imparting movement to the said plunger, a cam on the crank of the actuating device for the needlebar, adapted to engage the lever and rock the same at the time the needle-bar moves into an uppermost position, and a thread-controlled device for moving the said cam into an active position on the breaking of the thread, the said thread-controlled device consisting of an arm carrying an eye, for the passage of the thread, a cam mounted to turn and carrying the said arm and a cam-lever engaged by the said cam and adapted to move the said crank-arm cam into an active position,-,as,set

forth.

14. A sewing-machine provided with a needle-threading device,comprising a reciprocating plunger, for pushing the thread through the eye of the needle, a lever for imparting movement to the said plunger, a cam on the crank of the actuating device for the needlebar, adapted to engage the lever and rock the same at the time the needle-bar moves into an uppermost position, and a thread-controlled device for moving the said cam into an active position on the breaking of the thread, the said thread-controlled device consisting of an arm carrying an eye, for the passage of the thread, a cam mounted to turn and carrying the said arm and a cam-lever engaged by the said cam and adapted to move the said crank-arm cam into an active position, the said arm, its cam and the cam-lever returning to a normal position by the reestablished tension of the thread, as set forth.

15. A sewing-machine provided with a needle-threading device,comprising a reciprocating plunger, for pushing the thread through the eye of the needle, a lever for imparting movement to the said plunger, a cam on the crank of the actuating device for the needlebar, adapted to engage the lever and rock the same at the time the needle-bar moves into an uppermost position, and a manually controlled device for throwing the said cam into an active position, as set forth.

16. A sewing-machine providedwith a needle-threading device,comprising a reciprocating plunger, for pushing the thread through the eye of the needle, a lever for imparting movement to the said plunger, a cam on the crank of the actuating device for the needlebar, adapted to engage the lever and rock the.

same at the time the needle-bar moves into an uppermost position, anda manually-controlled device for throwingthe said cam into an active position, the said manually-controlled device being automatically returned by the crank, as set forth.

17. A needle-threading device for sewingmachines,provided with a reciprocating plunger for pushing the thread through the eye of the needle, a lever connected with the said plunger, a movable part of the sewing-machine for actuating the said plunger at the time the needle-bar moves into an uppermost position, and ahorn mounted to swing, to engage the thread-loop pushed through the needle-eye, asset forth.

18. A needle-threading device for sewingmachines,provided with a reciprocating plunger for pushing the'thread through the eye of the needle, a lever connected with the said plunger, a movable part of the sewing-machine for actuating the said plunger at the time, the needle-bar moves into an uppermost position, a horn mounted to swing, to engage the thread-loop pushed through the needleeye, means connected with the said lever, for moving the horn into an active position, and means on the needle-bar for returning the horn to an inactive position, as set forth.

19. A sewing-machine provided with a usedle-threading device,comprising a reciprocating plunger, for pushing the thread through the eye of the needle, a lever for imparting movement to the said plunger, a cam on the crank of the actuating device for the needlebar, adapted to engage the lever and rock the same at the time the needle-bar moves into an uppermost position, a thread-controlled device for moving the said cam into an active position on the breaking of the thread, and a manually-controlled device, for moving the said cam into an active position incase the said thread-controlled device fails, as set forth.

20. A needle-threading device for sewingmachines, provided with a guideway for the thread, a reciprocating plunger for pushing the thread from the guideway through the needle-eye,the said guideway and plunger being located on one side of the needle, a horn mounted to swing on the other side of the needle,for receiving the loop of thread formed by the plunger, movable parts of the sewingmachine, and means controlled from the movable parts of the sewing-machine,for actuating the said plunger and horn in unison, as set forth.

21. A needle-threading device for sewingmachines, provided with a bearing having a guideway for the thread, a plunger mounted to reciprocate in the said bearing and adapted to engage the thread in the guideway and push the thread through the needle-eye, a guide-arm on the bearing, for guiding the thread to the guideway, and spring-clamps on the guideway, for engaging the thread, to

hold the latter stretched in the guideway, as set forth.

22. A needle-threading device for sewingmachines, provided with a bearing having a guideway for the thread, a plunger mounted to reciprocate in the said bearing and adapted to engage the thread in the guideway and push the thread through the needle-ey e, a guide-arm on the bearing, for guiding the thread. to the guideway, and spring clamps on the gnideway, for engaging the thread, to hold the latter stretched in the guideway,the said arm being arranged transversely on the top of the bearing and thespring-clamps being located lengthwise on the bottom of the bearing, as set forth.

23. A needle-threading device for sewingmachines, a bearing provided at its forward end with a vertical guideway for the thread, a guide-arm on the bearing, extending transversely from the rear side of the bearingover the top of the guideway, a pair of springclamps on the bottom of the bearing, and a projection on the front forward portion of the bearing, and extending lengthwise beyond the end of the guidevvay, as set forth.

24. A needle-threading device for sewingmachines, comprising a reciprocating plunger, a lever for imparting movement to the plunger, a needle-bar crank, a lever-cam fulcrnmed on the said crank, and adapted to engage the said lever, to rock the same at the time the needle-bar moves into an uppermost position, and a handled crank-pin under the control of the operator, adapted to engage the said lever-cam, to move the latter into an operative position relative to the said lever, as setforth.

25. A needle-threading device for sewingmachines, comprising a reciprocating plunger, a lever for imparting movement to the plunger, a needle-bar crank, a lever-cam fulcrumed on the said crank, and adapted to engage the said lever, to rock the same at the time the needle-bar moves into an uppermost position, a handled crank-pin under the control of the operator, adapted to engage the said lever-cam,to move the latter into an operative position relative to the said lever, and a fixed cam for engaging the said lever-cam, to return the latter toa normal position after the needle is threaded, as set forth.

26. A needle-threading device for sewingnachines, comprising a reciprocating plunger, a lever for imparting movement to the plunger, a needle-bar crank, a lever-cam fulcrumed on the said crank, and adapted to engage the said lever, to rock the same at the time the needle-bar moves into an uppermost position, a handled crank-pin under the control of the operator, adapted to engage the said lever-cam, to move the latter into an operative position relative to the said lever, and a cam-face on the crank, for engaging the said crank-pin, to return the latter to a normal inactive position, as set forth.

to to engage the said cam-block, to impart a swinging motion to the said lever-cam, and a threading device actuated by the said lever-cam, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of r5 two subscribing witnesses.

SUMTER B. BATTEY. Witnesses:

THEO. G. HOSTER, EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL. 

